25 Years Ago
By Beverly Brown                         Photo of lions at courthouse's south entrance

It's September 1975. In Sacramento, California, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme points a gun at President Gerald Ford. Before she can fire it, a Secret Service agent grabs the gun.

Mother Elizabeth Seton, founder of the Sisters of Charity, is canonized. She is the first native born US saint.

In Amsterdam, a former mental patient slashes Rembrandt's "Nightwatch" over a dozen times.

Tawney Elaine Godin, 18, from Saratoga Springs, New York, is chosen Miss America in Atlantic City.

Patty Hearst, who now calls herself Tania, and three SLA comrades are arrested in San Francisco.

Sarah Jane Moore, 45, shots at, but misses President Ford in San Francisco. A bystander knocks the gun from her hand.

Don Iverson, 29, wins the BC Open.

Ross Park Zoo ends a summer-long celebration of its 100th birthday by dedicating a $7,000 aviary.

The Village of Owego board considers building a boardwalk along Riverow.

The Bicentennial flag is raised at the Tioga County's Courthouse.

Binghamton bans night football games for the remainder of the season following incidents of violence and vandalism after a night game between Binghamton Central North and Vestal.

A spell of steady rain causes floods and two million dollars worth of damage to private property, crops, roads, and bridges in Tioga County.

Binghamton fireman John C. Russell, 26, is presumed drowned while trying to rescue two rafters caught in the vicious currents at Rockbottom Dam. The next day, Fire Chief John Cox and Captain Donald McGeever drown while trying to find Russell's body. The bodies of Cox and McGeever are recovered, but Russell's is not found and he is still presumed drowned.

Two lions are settled into their new home in front of the south entrance to the Tioga County Courthouse in Owego. The metal statues once guarded the entrance to the Wilson house at the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue in the village (now a parking lot). They were originally in front of a house in New York City which Mrs. Wilson used to pass by as a child. When the New York City house was demolished, Dr. Wilson bought the lions for his wife and brought them to Owego.

St. Margaret Mary's Church in Apalachin dedicates their new church hall.

Movies playing at local theaters include Monty Python and the Holy Grail; Once is Not Enough; Give 'Em Hell, Harry; Luther; and Gone withthe Wind.

Top tunes include RhinestoneCowboy by Glen Campbell, At Seventeen by Janis Ian, How Sweet it Is by James Taylor, Run Joey Run by David Goddes, and Fallin' in Love by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds.